Join Jill and Nick as they take you behind the scenes to see where your food actually comes from!

Last Thursday we were invited to put on a showcase of local produce for an international conference group at the Gibraltar Hotel. I arranged for a couple of our producers to come along and talk about their products and we took some jams and vinegars from Cuttaway Creek Raspberry Farm. Nick talked about the Highlands as a whole as a food growing area. Everyone is always surprised about that - a "food bowl" so close to Sydney, but it is true! Closer to Sydney than the Hunter, we always tell them.
Kym Burrows from Sutton Forest Olives came along and spoke about her olive growing and the processing and we had a tasting of a range of her products, including her 2013 Robust and Fresh and Fruity olive oils which won awards recently in the National competition.
Alastair came from Bousaada Wines and gave the group a tasting of his Yellow Box Mead - and they loved it. In fact the group bought lots of product from all three producers so everyone was happy.

Well it is all over now until same time next year - but the Food and Wine Festival was a great success!! The weather was perfect which was very lucky - makes such a difference.

We have decided to introduce a new product to our range of tours - a Private Hosted Tour.
Coming to the Southern Highlands and not familiar with the area?
We often get enquiries from people who are coming to the Highlands for the weekend and are looking for something interesting to do. If we don't have tours scheduled this can be difficult.

When we travel I know that we are always looking for some way to get behind the scenes and not be "just a tourist" - and spending the day with a local is what we would love - so we have decided to offer this to our customers!
As well as knowing a lot about the food grown in the Southern Highlands we are also familiar with other interesting aspects of the Highlands like - history, gardens, arts and crafts, nature, food and wine.
The range of possibilities is extensive and we would plan the time together based on your interests.
So - come with us for a half day or a full day and meet the locals along the way.
Tour only (meals excluded). Transport - you follow us in your car.

• Half day - $75 per person
• Full day $135 per person

Contact us to discuss from www.foodpath.com.au or info@foodpath.com.au

Now that the Crave Food festival is over we have time to focus on the Southern Highlands and what we can offer you!
Coming down for the weekend? Maybe you live here? Planning a wedding? Reunion? Family get together? Xmas party? Conference?
We have something for everyone... Just contact us to discuss.
There are many options - winery tours, farm visits, gardens to wander in, art studios to visit, lovely restaurants in rural areas - ranging from up market and classy to more casual.

If you don't know the area we are just the people you need to make your stay memorable - and we love doing it. Contact us from the website and we will be in touch or email us on info@foodpath.com.au.

Wow, we have a busy week coming up -
1. Another Croissant Workshop tomorrow with 12 people, which is a good sized group. Coming along is a chef who wants to be able to surprise his daughter by cooking her croissants for breakfast! Lucky girl. This workshop is good for those who like to cook and also for those who are just interested. Watching skilled people "strut their stuff" s something I always like to do - and Tracy is highly skilled in pastry making.
2. On Sat we have our next Fruit Bottling Workshop. This was full but a couple of people have transferred to another day so there is space available if you would like to come? Email us from the website for more info.
3. Next Tues 2 Aug we have a Mushroom Tunnel Tour with Noel Arrold Micro-Biologist. There is a lot to find out and it is fascinating just to see all the different types of mushrooms growing. Quite a surprise to see all this in a disused railway tunnel - not normally open to the public. Bookings for this are taken at the Visitors Information Centre - ring 4871 2888.
4. On Sat 6 Aug we have a Day Tour in Canyonleigh. During this tour we visit an alpaca farm (they have baby alpacas which will be cute), two or three vineyards and an olive grove. Lunch and a wine tasting will take place at the hub of the community - The General Store. If you want to meet the locals this is the tour for you! Contact us from the website.

One of my favourite starting points for a day of exploring real farm fresh food here in The Southern Highlands is at an old Orchard. I love picking fruit straight from the trees. You can't beat the crunch of a freshly picked apple. No cool storage here!


Berry picking is next on the agenda and just down the road. So fresh to eat and we just pay for what we want to take home.


It is great to have such nice fresh fruit at our finger tips - and it lasts so much longer than what you buy in the supermarket.


There is a winery nearby that started as a seminary 100 years ago. Now it is run as a Conference and Training Centre - and is also a working farm.


There is a fabulous refurbished chapel with the modern carved timber furnishings and stained glass windows. Very special. Last year The Song Company put on a concert there. That's what I love about living in the Southern Highlands - you get these hidden treasures!


There are ducks and geese roaming free, a healthy looking herd of cattle and a vineyard. The Brothers sell their fresh produce including jams and chutneys and you can buy duck eggs if you are lucky.




We wind up by visiting a wonderful fine craft centre nearby to relax over coffee and browse through the fabulous gallery for that special present for someone - or just admire.